Today I went to a store (in Washington State) whose website advertised 2:1 on a suited natural on Sundays and Mondays from 3pm-7pm. I found this particularly appealing, as the particular rule-set at this store results in a house advantage of 0.57%, and the rule reduces the house edge by exactly that. In other words, it is within 1 basis point of a perfectly even game.

At around 5:45pm I was dealt such a suited natural, but was only paid 3:2. It was on a minimum bet, so I wasn’t terribly upset, but nonetheless I questioned the dealer (to no avail) and at the end of the shoe I walked over to the floor manager and asked him about the promotion, just in case I had missed something. He said he didn’t know anything about it, and a nearby dealer mentioned that the website hadn’t been updated in 2 years.

Quote:overtheedgesaid:Today I went to a store (in Washington State) whose website advertised 2:1 on a suited natural on Sundays and Mondays from 3pm-7pm. I found this particularly appealing, as the particular rule-set at this store results in a house advantage of 0.57%, and the rule reduces the house edge by exactly that. In other words, it is within 1 basis point of a perfectly even game.

At around 5:45pm I was dealt such a suited natural, but was only paid 3:2. It was on a minimum bet, so I wasn’t terribly upset, but nonetheless I questioned the dealer (to no avail) and at the end of the shoe I walked over to the floor manager and asked him about the promotion, just in case I had missed something. He said he didn’t know anything about it, and a nearby dealer mentioned that the website hadn’t been updated in 2 years.

What do you think about the (1) ethicality and (2) legality of this?

I’d double-check the web site to make sure no end date for the promotion was posted. If not, I’d write to casino management with a printout of the relevant page and ask them to honor the promotion. If you were playing rated, let them know that, so they can verify you were there when you say you were. If they decline, I’d send the printout, along with a statement of what happened, to the regulatory agency with jurisdiction over the casino. It is not at all rare for floor personnel at any casino to be unaware of current, valid promotions. In the future, always bring the mailer or a printout of the e-mail or web site with you. With documentary evidence, you usually can get the casino to honor its offer with a minimum of delay and aggravation.